XENOPHOBIA: 1 killed, 5 injured in renewed attacks in South Africa

The South African police has confirmed that one person has been killed and five others injured in renewed xenophobia-inspired violence in the country’s financial capital, Johannesburg, on Sunday.

The confirmation made by the Gauteng police spokesperson, Captain Kay Makhubele, on Sunday, was further corroborated by the President of the Nigerian Union South Africa, Adetola Olubajo.

According to reports, a group of men, some of whom wielded sticks, pangas and tree branches, marched through the city centre after disrupting a meeting in which the President Emeritus of the Inkatha Freedom Party, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, spoke to hostel residents following a week of deadly xenophobic violence.

The police spokesman, Makhubele said 16 people were arrested for public violence and possession of stolen property, as several shops were forced to close their doors wile the protesters damaged property and looted several businesses.

The Nigerian Union, reacting to the renewed violence, called on all Nigerians to stay away from hot spots where the ongoing violent protest march by Zulu hostel dwellers in Johannesburg was taking place and equally be at alert as it may spread across the province of Gauteng and beyond.

The publicity secretary of the union, Habib Salihu, made the call in a statement on Sunday, explaining that this was to avoid a repeat of the violence recorded last week which led to “monumental loss of properties and innocent lives.”

The statement reads: “The demonstration is still ongoing, hence we have warned/alerted our people/structures through various media platforms affiliated with our organisation.

“We urge the law enforcement agents to please be proactive in dealing with the prevalent situation so that lives and properties of inhabitants in the Republic, especially African foreign migrants that appear to be the primary target, are protected.